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NASA

The NASA space engineer tell us that most of the fuel used in a rocket launch is burned up in the first few seconds of liftoff. It takes tremendous energy and thrust to get the rocket off the launchpad. Once it’s moving and headed for orbit, it requires much less fuel and is easier to control and direct. It has overcome inertia (Rick Warren. The Power to Change Your Life, p. 15). Procrastinators must spend whatever energy necessary to launch off their behinds into spiritual productivity.

2. Procrastinators who say, “Tomorrow, I Will Confess and Forsake Sin”

The writer of Hebrews is writing to Jewish persecuted believers who are about to stop serving the Lord because of the difficulties. The author warned them not to follow the bad example of the generation of Jews who were delivered from Egypt but would not follow God into the Promised Land. They could have traveled into the place of victory after victory in just eleven days. But they chose to wander aimlessly for 40 unproductive years (Hebrews 3:7-11).

Why did this tragic loss of productivity for the Lord happen? They refused to trust God and obey His will for their lives. They were the O. J. Simpsons of the O. T., the Heisman Trophy Winner who now rots in jail. They all this potential at one point in their lives but then they squandered it.

The author pleads with his generation who are experiencing hardships not to let their problems cause them to linger in apathy and unconfessed sin (Hebrews 3:12-15).

I meet so many people who are getting ready to live, but never live. “I’m, aiming to change,” they tell me. And I want to reply, “That’s good, but when are you going to pull the trigger?” (Warren, p. 14).

3. Non-procrastinator who said, “Today, I Will Serve God and Others.”

Paul is writing his last words in 2 Timothy before he is martyred for faithfully serving his Savior. Paul has traveled his last missionary journey, preached his last sermon, and written his last epistle. He is headed for the chopping block. Paul instructs his son in the faith, Timothy, to come quickly in 4:9: “Stop what you are doing, and come quickly.” Why was Paul so urgent? He informs us in 4:21: “Do your diligence to come before winter.”

Paul knew that harbors shut down for the winter and sailing was over until spring. What if Timothy procrastinated? How would Timothy have felt if he lingered and did not immediately respond to Paul’s urgent plea? What if Timothy finally got around to leaving Ephesus and going to Troas to pick up Paul’s winter coat and some books only to find to the port already closed down because it was no longer safe to sail. But, because we believe Timothy acted with dispatch both Timothy and Paul received a spiritual blessing.

Has God laid on your heart a ministry that could be a refreshing to someone else? Has God burdened you to serve Him by giving someone an encouraging phone call, hand written letter, visit, invitation out for a meal, or some practical deed?

According to tradition, Julius Caesar was handed a letter as he ascended his chariot to go to the Capitol on that fateful day on the Ides of March. The bearer of the letter urged him to read it immediately, but Caesar refused, saying, “I will open and read the letter later.” Shortly after the incident, Caesar died at the hands of the assassins. The letter, which contained a warning which might have saved his life had he read it, was found unopened in his tunic.

Timothy did not throw Paul’s letter on his already big pile of things to do not yet done. We have to believe he acted immediately. Pull the trigger by trusting Christ as your Savior NOW, confess that sin that has been nagging your conscience, and go be a Timothy is someone’s life today.